Seattle has selected Shannon Smith, a longtime public sector technology executive with deep regional experience, as its next chief technology officer. Starting June 8, she will oversee a 633-person department with a $280 million budget after serving in senior roles at King County, Bellevue and the city itself. Her pandemic response leadership and recent consulting work position her to tackle modernization, equity and cybersecurity challenges.
Agentic AI is transforming CTO priorities in 2026, shifting from AI copilots to autonomous agents that orchestrate software development lifecycles. This evolution boosts efficiency, cuts costs, and demands robust governance. Drawing from recent analyses, the change promises faster innovation but requires strategic oversight to mitigate risks.
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